Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-12-23
STABBED In THE BACK
A MYSTERIOUS DIFFICULTY NEAR THE
HARTsH0RE COLLEGE.
a Youth Badly Injured while Eobly Pro.
tecting His Sister from Rufisn-
Details ofthe Affair.

Milton Thomas Luck is seventeen
years OF age. For about six months he
has served soda-waser and limeade and
such drinks fiom one OF Mr.. Sch@n's
counters. Night before last he left the
store at five minutes past 10 o'clock,
saying he was going TO n wedding recep-
ton on Fourth street for his sister, whom
he had promised to escort home. Yes
terday morning he sent word to Mr.
Sch@n that he had been dangerously
stabbed the night before and therefore
could not come TO business.
Last night a Dispatch reporter visited
the young mans residence, l42l west
Leigh street, and was there told the fol-
loving story:
LUCK's STATEMENT.
When Luck left the store he went
home, and having quickly changed his
store clothes for others started to the
residence of cousin on Fourth street, at
whose house a reception was going on.
Getting his sister, who is a grown yonng
lady, he started mp Clay street with her.
As they neared Kinney street the town
bells struck l..
now THE LAND LAYS.
1t might be well to remark just here
that Kinney street is next to the last
cross-street inside the western corporate
limits. The last one is Bowe street, at
the corner Of which, fronting on Leigh,
stands the Lucks' place of abode, the
last house on Leigh street except the
Hartshorn College, which is about n
square beyond.
THE WILLIAM APPEARS.
At Kinney street the dim outline OF
man was seen between Clay and Leigh,
and as the couple walked on the man
came up to Clay and followed. At Bowe
street they turned toward Clay, the
stranger deviating in the same direction.
The middle of the square was reached as
the man overlook the pair, and, cursing
young Luck, roughly shouted
"GIyE Me THAT GAL"
The young man turned around, and
as he did 30 the ruiian rushed at him
and dealt him fearful blow in the right
side of his stomach, and, pushing him
violently against the fence, stabbed him
with a knife.
The fellow was heavily built and about
thirty five years of age. OF course Luck,
who is mere boy physically, was no
match for an antagonist who could easily
have killed him in a little while. Luck,
however, showed fight, and did noble
work with n small malacca cane. This
he broke almost into fbres over the
mans head The reporter was shown
the remnants Of the stick.
GIVES TEE ALARlL
What had become Of the sister while
her brother was being thus used?
Running ahrightedly to the door Of
an older brothers room on one side of
the house she aroused him and excltedly
exclaimed:
"Milton is being killed !"
The brother lighted a lamp, and as the
light shone through the doorway and
window the rufian saw that assistance
for his victim was at hand, and breaking
away from him, escaped into the dark
ness, and has not been since heard OF.
WOUNDS.
The young man wss carried into his
house and DIR. Hugh NJ. Taylor sent for.
It was found that there was only one Sc
we're cot-in the back, extending into
the chest. The cut is about two or three
inches deep, and lies between Che eleventh
and twelfth rib on the right side of and
an inch from the spine. Until last night
he could not lie down, and he suffers ex-
cruciating pain, especially froufthe blow
his assailant gave him in the side.
SCENE or THE STRUGGLE.
The ground whore the fight occurred
is next to the fence on the west side of
the Luck residence, and the brothers of
the wounded boy, with lamps in hand,
at once examined it. Signs Of a scuiile
we're apparent for twenty yards or more,
and the fresh shoe-prints along there
showed that the unknown party had q
neat foot. Beyond this nothing Is known
of him. Luck could not see him dis
tinctly could not even tell il he was
white or black, but says that he talked
ike q sober white man, and wore light
slouch bat pulled down over his fore
head.
ovTRCOAT.
The overcoat worn by Luck showed
plainly that the villain tried to cut Lucks
throat. There were three slashes in the
cloth near the collar to show this, and
hole in the arm indicated that a lunge
had been made in that direction, while
III the back was made large slit.
DIR. Taylor says his patient will GER
tainly not be out of danger entirely for
five or six days. The wound is not ne
cessarily dangerous, but some time will
be needed to see how it will develop.
The police have been unable to lay
hands on Luck's assailant yet, and they
have been unable also to solve the pro-
blem of the assault, but express the
opinion that the man had a grudge
against Luck. While this is possible,
still it is not probable, and it is more
likely that the man mistook the couple
for others.
NEEDED IMPROVEMENTS.
There is not a gas-lamp within two or
three squares of where the Lucks reside,
although they live within the city limits.
A better place to waylay, rob, or kill on
a dark night could not be found, and a
man or woman might yell blue murder
without the prospect of assistance.
The policeman who does duty from
about First street to the western city
lmits-about fifteen squares-can hardly
be expected to get up as far as this more
than once during the night.
Lamps should certainly be placed
along there.
Personals and Briefs.
The public markets will be closed on
Monday.
Mr.. w. Jackson Turner, of Mobile,
Ala, is in the city for the holidays